Probiotic Supplements Help Prevent H1N1?

Probiotics have long been shown to build the immune system. I'm living proof of this. Some probiotic supplements might help you avoid seasonal and swine flu, and limit the severity of H1N1 flu symptoms. I believe the biggest factor in preventing the flu is balanced diet, exercise and avoiding a change in rapid body temperature. I know there is research that shows the being cold does not make you sick. Here is my therory, I think that rapid changes in body temperature weekens your immune system, thereby allowing viruses or bacteria, that are always present, to spread through your body. I never get sick in the summer, but I used to get a cold every winter. I'm indoors all the time, summer and winter, so the therory that you are in doors more in the winter is BS. In Phoenix my windows are closed year round and it gets cold here. It is Oct now and the temp dropped to 40 degrees last night for 80 in the day.

Probiotics are key ingredients in many popular yogurt brands. They have been shown to be useful in treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and antibiotic diarrhea. New clinical evidence shows that certain probiotic supplements can boost our immune system's response to influenza and other viruses. Probiotics are an important adjunct to flu vaccines and may help people avoid influenza or reduce flu symptoms. I had to travel often and I seemed to be sick every time I traveled. My partner recommened iflora. This was 2 years ago and I have not a cold since then. My friend travels every week and has not had a cold in 5 years.

Overview Of Probiotics

There are some commonly practiced techniques to avoid the pathogens that cause illness -- hand washing, use of sanitizer gel, and cough/sneeze etiquette, for example. Probiotics supplements might provide the additional help families need this season as consumers, especially parents, look for natural ways to boost their immunity and stay healthy.

Probiotics are, in simple terms, friendly bacteria. The WebMD.com site says that probiotics help keep the intestinal flora in balance by reducing harmful bacteria. Probiotics can help relieve antibiotic-associated diarrhea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and other digestive maladies. Probiotics are normally part of the digestive system, so they are considered safe under usual circumstances.

Most people might be exposed to probiotics by their availability in yogurt, but MayoClinic.com says that probiotic supplements contain much more of the active ingredient, counted in the billions of CFU, or colony forming units, and therefore are potentially more beneficial than yogurt alone.

Which Probiotic Supplements Are The Best?

There are several dozen strains of probiotic currently available, so it can be confusing when picking one to take. My choice is iFlora by Nutri-Helath.

Yogurt is a good source but you need to eat it daily. Consumers should look for either Bacillus coagulans (BC-30) or Lactobacillus GG. These two have years of scholarly research behind them. These bacteria have the ability to survive the acidic environment of the stomach to make it to the lower GI tract.